December 10, 2003 -- A pet-shop worker whose store has been robbed several times turned the tables on a pack of armed crooks last night - grabbing control of an attacker's gun and shooting two of the bandits dead, cops said.

The ill-fated holdup went down at about 8:10 p.m. at Quality Canines, on Stillwell Avenue in Gravesend, Brooklyn.

Area residents told The Post they saw four men run into the store. Cops said they were armed and wearing walkie-talkie headsets.

One of the crooks tried to duct-tape a store worker. That enraged the man, said cops.

Somehow, he got control of one of the hoods' guns and opened fire, blasting two of the robbers dead on the floor amid cages filled with barking dogs.

After the shooting, neighbors said, two of the four robbers ran out - although police last night could not confirm that total.

After the robbers fled, the store's two workers ran outside in a panic.

"I heard the shots, and then I saw the guy come out of the store, saying, 'Oh, my God! Oh, my God!,' and he was putting his hands over his mouth and he had blood over his hands," said witness Richard Solis, 31.

"The cops came up, and he told them, 'I think I killed them. I got the gun. I think I killed two people.' "

Law-enforcement sources said the dead men were wearing communications headsets with microphones - an indication that more than two hoods were involved.

One of the store's workers was hospitalized with a wound to the hand.

Neighbors said robbers have frequently targeted the store, stealing money or dogs.

"If they were trying to rob him and they got shot, that's street justice. They got what they deserved," said Cesar Rafael, 37, a friend of the shop's owner.

"Two months ago, he got robbed at gunpoint. He gets hit at least two or three times a year . . . He's been beat up by robbers.

"I remember one time, his whole face was swollen from a beating.

"It got to the point where he kept his door locked. You could only get in by buzzer."

Surely the police and the DA will arrest and charge the shop owner with illegal possession of an unlicensed handgun???????

As per NYC policy???????

Think he can make an arguement for a carry permit now??????

spacemanspiff

December 10, 2003, 02:37 PM

wonder if they'll let him keep the gun?

TheeBadOne

December 10, 2003, 02:41 PM

Robbery should be a very dangerous occupation.
http://www.cmaa.org/student/eonline/01_02/images/Clap.gif

Jiml3

December 10, 2003, 04:55 PM

I'll bet that they won't give him a license and will tell him not to have a large dog for protection. "Next time call us and let the professionals handle it." If you are still alive when we get there you can count yourself lucky.
The only people in NY to have gun permits are cops and politicaly connected people.

JimL3

QuarterBoreGunner

December 10, 2003, 05:31 PM

Am I the only one that thinks it's odd that the owner of a pet store that specializes in dogs, doesn't have a trained guard dog on premise? I've been to a bunch of gun stores that have a 'house' dog behind the counter (guns 'n dogs just seem to go together... cats go with computers I think)

But props to the store employee; I just hope the dead bad guys friends don't come back for revenge.

Standing Wolf

December 10, 2003, 11:25 PM

Two months ago, he got robbed at gunpoint. He gets hit at least two or three times a year . . . He's been beat up by robbers.

Something's grossly wrong with this picture.

CGofMP

December 11, 2003, 12:33 AM

Call me a cynic, but gee....

I wonder how many people in NYC 'take' robbers guns and do in the robbers with them. Untraceable guns..... guns that nobody knows how the robber got them..... guns that seemed strange for a robber to have... guns none of the robbers friends knew he had.....

Whatever really happened I say good for the pet shop man.

You can only kick a man so many times before he gives up or 'gives em hell'.

Charles

Graystar

December 11, 2003, 08:10 AM

Something's grossly wrong with this picture.Maybe for you folks OUTSIDE of NYC... :(

MicroBalrog

December 11, 2003, 08:38 AM

One of the crooks tried to duct-tape a store worker. That enraged the man, said cops

He decided to stick up for him?

ksnecktieman

December 11, 2003, 08:45 AM

A quote from an old Clint Eastwood movie seems appropriate here. " You can shear a sheep many times, but you can only butcher him once." I am glad the shop owner is tired of being shorn.

My feelings here are "too bad". It is too bad the crook was not carrying an illegal pistol with a hi-cap magazine, the victim may have got the other two.
It is too bad that two of them got away, they just might be caught and the shopkeeper will have to spend many days going to court.
It is too bad that the two that escaped have been so traumatized by the danger of armed citizens. They may have to seek job training for a new vocation.
It is too bad that we do not have an automatic reward program, maybe five grand to anyone that uses lethal force to stop a crime? Think how much cheaper that would be than fifteen court appearances and five years jail time, and many appeals.
It is too bad that when a robber is killed in the line of duty that we do not commemorate him, maybe with a picture of him on a flag with crossed bones in front of it to be hung above the doorway of the store where he was terminated?

MuzzleBlast

December 11, 2003, 09:56 AM

I wonder how many people in NYC 'take' robbers guns and do in the robbers with them. Good story to use, though. Smuggle a gun in for yourself, and if you have to cap a crook, tell the police you got into a struggle for the goon's gun, and you won! Of course, if the police actually investigate the incident, bring in the forensics team, etc. you may be in trouble.

DadOfThree

December 11, 2003, 09:57 AM

Good thing he worked in a pet store,

He was used to handling vermin :D :D

sturmruger

December 11, 2003, 11:02 AM

"If they were trying to rob him and they got shot, that's street justice. They got what they deserved," said Cesar Rafael, 37, a friend of the shop's owne

This guy is right on the money we need more street justice in the country.

hansolo

December 11, 2003, 12:36 PM

It's been nearly 30 years since the original "Death Wish", in which Charles Bronson refines Street Justice to an art. If you missed it, it's on video. After watching it you'll think..."And handgun ownership is STILL illegal(except for the Elite)in New York City? And, BTW Bronson's character is refered to as a Vigilante in the film....I think Street Justice is much more on-the-money.:fire:

This shop owner had no interest in playing judge. He just didn't want to die, or see his employees die. So he defended himself.

I cannot fathom how New York can insist on disarming its law-abiding citizens in the face of crime like this.

sonny

December 11, 2003, 06:02 PM

The only people in NY to have gun permits are cops and politicaly connected people.

Whenever a NYC gun story comes out on THR I think comments like the above are counter productive .........I'll asume what jiml3 meant was that the only people that get CARRY permits are cops and politicaly connected people....if thats what you meant jiml3 I AGREE.....if you where suggesting that having a legal home defense-target shooting permit or for that matter a permit for your place of biz I'll have to disagree......
I hope anyone reading comments like this realize that if you want a handgun in NYC you can get one as long as you are not a felon and you are of age........I won't begin to try and compare the ease of obtaining a legal firearm in NYC with the rest of the country ....BUT.....If you want one you CAN get one.......I hope THRoaders will avoid flaming my comments...the purpose being to get more New Yorkers into the shooting sports.....just get ready for a bunch of headaches.... don't let that stop you!!!...........we need help.

jiml3.......I did not mean to direct this at you ...forgive me if it sounds that way :)

Glamdring

December 16, 2003, 10:13 AM

Why rob a pet store?

Specially with 4 goblin team? :confused:

Do Goblins need catnip that bad?

Master Blaster

December 16, 2003, 10:20 AM

)Why rob a pet store?

Cause you can sell a dog on the street for cash, or drugs, and usually dogs dont have a serial number that can be traced (barring the owner haveing the dog tatooed with SSN or something like that).